Getting ready to start six cycles of docetaxel in a few weeks. Have been reading about the use of ice mittens, booties and ice skull cap to ward off peripheral neuropathy and hair lose. Does this acutely work?
Also, my OM at Moffitt Center in Tampa has been delaying the beginning of chemotherapy while awaiting the opening of phase 2 clinical trial that will add Opdivo to the Docetaxel. This delay has been on-going for about two months. Should waiting this long to begin treatment be of concern? Only treatment I’ve received thus far is two Firmagon infusions, which will be my regular ADT drug.
Thanks to all for all the great information you’ve been posting.
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Stevana
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Firmagon will hold the cancer for now. If the Opdivo trial is delayed, you should at least have Neulasta with the chemo, especially during the pandemic.
The ice cap worked very well for my friend. He had minimal neuropathy without ice mittens of ice on his feet.
Apparently one of the conditions of the trial is to not have previously received chemo. They want to administer both drugs together. I'm expecting the trial to begin in July. I was just concerned about the four month delay since diagnosis. But as you say, if the Firmagon is sufficient for right now and the delay is not detrimental, I’m ok with waiting. I’m guardedly confident my MO would not unnecessarily jeopardize my health. I asked the question because I have no idea what would be considered as waiting to long to begin chemo. From what I’m hearing on this forum and others early intervention with chemotherapy improves OS time.
Not sure what the hold up is. There is a certain amount of pre-screening involved and consent forms to be signed. However, I haven’t heard from anyone yet on that note. My MO is on maternity leave but monitoring emails. I will follow up with him on status of start date. Thanks for your insight.
Responding to your ice mittens query, here's our anecdotal experience:
My husband wore ice mitts and ice socks for nine out of his ten Docetaxel infusions. He got some neuropathy all the same--not too debilitating but concerning. He just finished chemo three weeks ago, so we'll see if the neuropathy in his fingertips clears up. The foot neuropathy pretty much went away during the treatments though it was problematic earlier in the cycles. He didn't wear an ice cap and lost his hair. Another patient who started at the same time did wear an ice cap and kept all of her beautiful hair and had no neuropathy--fewer infusions, though.
Here are the Amazon links to the mitts and socks. We kept them in the freezer, put them in a small cooler, and picked up ice en route to the hospital each time. My husband put on the mitts and socks as soon as he saw the nurse arrive with the IV (There's delay to get the drugs because the order doesn't go to the pharmacy until the patient is installed in the infusion chair.)
amazon.com/gp/product/B07VG...
amazon.com/gp/product/B077R...
Wishing you the best outcome from your future treatment.
You're welcome. I just noticed someone mentioned ice chips to preserve sense of taste. My husband did that, too. The infusion suite had an ice machine for ice chips, so he sucked on those off and on during the infusion.
Ice cap takes a little getting used to: I used it with 6 x cycles Docetaxel and never lost a hair.
I had no issues with neuropathy nor loss of taste thankfully.
Each to their own I believe.
Michael
Everybody is different. You want try, try, however, discuss with two people: Medical Oncologist and Infusion RN.
Me? In 2004 over a six month period, I had 9 infusions of a Taxotere and 9 infusions of Adrimyacin on a 24 hour pump. The only ice I used was once! And that was ice chips along the third infusion during the Taxotere to guard against Thrust.
My toe nails and finger nails were checked before every infusion. That will tell you if ice would help.
Agree with gourd_dancer that everybody is different. But, I can provide my recent experience with ice caps. I just completed 7 rounds of docetaxel, wore the caps, and kept all of my hair. For me, it was more tedious than anything else because, in order to make sure it works, I was advised to wear the caps one hour before chemo, during chemo, and 4 hours after. Besides that, it didn't bother me much. Did the 4 hours after at home. It helped that a dear friend did the capping for me and, beside being a triple negative breast caner survivor, she is incredibly entertaining. I did not ice my fingers or toes and have no neuropathy. My taste buds are a little off so I think the ice chips are worth a shot.
I have read that some patients have problems with their tear ducts scarring closed, resulting in dry eyes. Frequent eye flushing with eye drops during infusion helps.
I’ve used the ice treatment both times I’ve went through with good success. I put ice packs on my toes, Hands are in ice water trays and I wear a cool cap. While you will lose some of your hair I was able to keep a fairly good head of hair both times.
My wife had ovarian cancer and tx was carboplatin and taxol x6. She used ice mitts and had no neuropathy in hands but some in feet. Feet have resolved now four years later. If she had to repeat this treatment she says she would use on hands and feet. She had two pair and the infusion center had fridge freezer so she could replace during infusion and swap 2-3 times depending on length of infusion. She accepted hair loss as price of treatment success. Five years later she is recurrence free.
My husband used ice on hands and feet and didn't experience any neuropathy. After the second infusion he was having trouble with his tear ducts so we bought eye gel pads that can be frozen from Amazon and that worked. He also sucked on frozen blueberries, strawberries and grapes during the infusion and drank lots of liquids. Best of luck to you!
Ice mittens were provided by my cancer centre for free during chemo. At the halfway point, just as the mittens were starting to get warmer and more comfortable, the nurse would arrive with a new pair fresh from the freezer. I used to hate that moment. 😀
The mittens did work. I had no problem with my fingers. I did not wear ice booties and did get some neuropathy in my toes but it went away about a month after the chemo finished.
I did not wear a cap. I shaved my head once the hair started falling out. It wasn't a big deal for me as I've always had a short military cut. For those that wore the cap, I'm curious if you still lost other body hair. I lost most of mine and half has never grown back, including eyebrows and eyelashes.
Best of luck with your chemo. It isn't fun but it was easier to take than I expected.
Thanks for sharing your experience. Had not heard of the loss of eye brows and lashes. Is guess there’s not much you can do to prevent that from occurring. I’m hearing from others about how accommodating there providers were in providing assistant with cryotherapy during there chemo. The Moffitt Cancer Center in Tampa seems to be in the Stone Age on this one. Their response has been - it’s either not an approved therapy or you’re on your own if you want to bring your own ice and equipment. Not encouraging!
Listen to the above recommendations... Wear ice where they suggest. I've seen many many posts that you should ice yourself.... Don't forget mouth chips and eye drops...
From above (eye drops are clintmeek's recommendation)
I only take credit if it's about sex 👀👀👀
clintmeek
11 hours ago
I have read that some patients have problems with their tear ducts scarring closed, resulting in dry eyes. Frequent eye flushing with eye drops during infusion helps.
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